I'm overjoyed to announce a new addition to my family! I'm enjoying the cuddles, bonding, and SINGING that I get to experience again with a new baby. I started caring for my first baby 16 years ago. Luckily I have kept my focus on caring for young children as a children's musician and music educator- so I feel ready and excited for this adventure to start again, and maybe even better prepared and knowledgable than the first time!
Understandably enough, the live filming I was doing isn't as easy now, so instead I have rediscovered the songs from my first album by making animated music videos for them. These songs were written with inspiration from caring for my baby at that time. As I care for my baby now, I'm remembering what prompted each line, and the feelings the words and music evoked in me many years ago. I'd like to share a bit of that with you here, in hopes that these feelings resonate with you, and that these songs might fill your home as well.
"Oh Constellation" was a song I started to write with inspiration from an older student of mine, and my own love of stargazing. I finished the song after having my first baby, and the song took on new meaning. Any new parent shares an affinity to the night, with the necessity of around the clock care. Alone at night, struggling to stay awake, we dig deep for inner strength. Searching for inspiration by connecting with stories in the stars may only be possible in one's imagination, but feelings of being tethered to the universe in some significant way are real and can help us find that strength when needed.
I designed "Oh Constellation" with high contrast, black and white graphics. This is because baby can see these shapes. Your baby will not be interested in looking for very long, but for a moment or two it may help develop baby's optic nerves. Plus it looks kind of cool for the theme of stars and being awake at night with your baby!
I wrote "Time for Peace" when my first baby was around two. There are moments that all of us, parents or otherwise, might wish were more peaceful. Parents of toddlers will understand that particularly well, but my wish was to create something more universal and that would perhaps take on more significant meaning around the holidays. It's an easy song to sing, and I've done this one several times with children's choirs. (All three of the songs I'm writing about today have sheet music you can purchase and use)!
With the animation for "Time for Peace," I tried to tell simple stories of dismay and peaceful resolution with the help of a caregiver, in addition to advocating for peace for all of us around the world. For those of us who experience unsettling times and assist young ones into feeling more peaceful, this wish for universal peace is made with sincere empathy. It's always time for peace, for everyone, everywhere, particularly for our children!
The last song I'll talk about today is "Lullaby." This is another song about which I first had an idea to write based off my work with older children. It simply calls to attention the learning, imagination, and awareness we experience during the day. I added the the verse about soothing to sleep and the dreams we have while sleeping after caring for my baby. I realized that whatever I helped my baby experience would be processed uniquely and kept by them throughout their whole life: "Put it in your pocket, safe with you."
"Lullaby," is designed simply to portray those images and ideas in high contrast. The music reflects gentle rocking, and the flute solo adds a tender beauty that attempts to capture that special moment of bonding made between caregiver and child before sleep.
These songs are all available on ITunes, Spotify, and Amazon! Sheet Music is available at SheetMusicDirect.
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